Jong Seok Nam

Inspired by Richard Feynman's 1959 lecture and the 1966 film Fantastic Voyage, the field of micro/nanorobots has evolved from science fiction to reality, with significant advancements in biomedical and environmental applications. Despite the rapid progress, the deployment of functional micro/nanorobots remains limited. This review of the technology roadmap identifies key challenges hindering their widespread use, focusing on propulsion mechanisms, fundamental theoretical aspects, collective behavior, material design, and embodied intelligence. We explore the current state of micro/nanorobot technology, with an emphasis on applications in biomedicine, environmental remediation, analytical sensing, and other industrial technological aspects. Additionally, we analyze issues related to scaling up production, commercialization, and regulatory frameworks that are crucial for transitioning from research to practical applications. We also emphasize the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to address both technical and nontechnical challenges, such as sustainability, ethics, and business considerations. Finally, we propose a roadmap for future research to accelerate the development of micro/nanorobots, positioning them as essential tools for addressing grand challenges and enhancing the quality of life.

Electrospinning has emerged as a transformative technique for fabricating nanofibers (NFs), offering precise control over their morphology, composition, and functionality. This versatile process facilitates the production of fibers ranging from nanoscale to microscale with customized properties, integrating diverse materials and architectures for advanced research and industrial applications. This review presents recent advancements in electrospinning, addressing its fundamental principles, nanomaterial synthesis methods, and examples from a wide range of applications. The significant progress that are made in fabricating polymer, metal oxide, carbon, and composite NFs with diverse architectures such as porous, core–shell, hollow, and aligned structures is highlighted. Advanced electrospinning techniques, including coaxial electrospinning, aligned electrospinning, yarn electrospinning, and roll‐to‐roll processes, demonstrate the scalability and adaptability of electrospinning for the development of next‐generation nanomaterials. Electrospun NFs are being actively applied to functional membranes, gas sensors, energy systems, and catalytic processes, addressing critical challenges in these respective areas. In conclusion, the groundbreaking potential of integrating artificial intelligence (AI)‐driven optimization with sustainable material design, such as the use of environmentally‐friendly “green” solvents, is emphasized. In the end, leveraging robotics‐based electrospinning and AI‐enhanced methodologies is essential to achieve stable scalability, optimized performance, and sustainability for research and industry.

Li–CO ₂ batteries offer a promising avenue because they have a high energy density of 1876 kW h g ^–1 and can convert greenhouse gases into energy. The carbon‐based air‐breathing cathode of Li–CO ₂ batteries plays a crucial role in facilitating CO ₂ reduction and ensuring stable battery operation. However, despite recent advancements, the fundamental understanding and research on the intrinsic traits and electrochemical performance of these carbon host materials remain insufficient. In this article, we fabricated the electrically conducting carbon nanofibers (eC‐CNFs) via electrospinning followed by postcarbonization treatment. Furthermore, we established the correlation between structural, morphological, and electrochemical properties—modulated by the carbonization temperature—and battery performance of air‐breathing eC‐CNFs. Although the eC‐CNF1500 had the highest electrical conductivity, the eC‐CNF1100 demonstrated more stable battery cycling performance than eC‐CNF1500, suggesting a trade‐off between mechanical stability and electrical property as the carbonization temperature increases. Beyond the evaluation of Li–CO ₂ battery performance, this study provides comprehensive insights into the intrinsic traits—mechanical properties and electrical conductivity—of eC‐CNFs tuned by the carbonization temperature.

The global energy crisis caused by the overconsumption of nonrenewable fuels has prompted researchers to develop alternative strategies for producing electrical energy. In this review, a fascinating strategy that simply utilizes water, an abundant natural substance throughout the globe and even in air as moisture, as a power source is introduced. The concept of the hydrovoltaic electricity generator (HEG) proposed herein involves generating an electrical potential gradient by exposing the two ends of the HEG device to dissimilar physicochemical environments, which leads to the production of an electrical current through the active material. HEGs, with a large variety of viable active materials, have much potential for expansion toward diverse applications including permanent and/or emergency power sources. In this review, representative HEGs that generate electricity by the mechanisms of diffusion, streaming, and capacitance as case studies for building a fundamental understanding of the electricity generation process are discussed. In particular, by comparing the use and absence of hygroscopic materials, HEG mechanism studies to establish active material design principles are meticulously elucidated. The review with future perspectives on electrode design using conducting nanomaterials, considerations for high performance device construction, and potential impacts of the HEG technology in improving the livelihoods are reviewed.